Tag Archives: Smart Watch

Leaked screen shot of what is allegedly Samsung's answer to Apple's iWatch

With smear campaigns and even legal drama, Apple and Samsung have been at war for some time now. And with a new Samsung phone accessory in development, we know exactly where the next battle will be fought.

According to Bloomberg, the company is working on a smart watch that could rival the iWatch, a new Apple accessory that's also reportedly in development. And the potential for cut-throat competition between the two companies is already a hot topic, with the Wall Street Journal calling this their "next battleground" and 9to5Mac quipping "the smart watch race is on."

One of the alleged screen shots of Samsung's upcoming smart watch hints at features and a Galaxy name

Samsung has actually confirmed they're working on this fun gadget, but they haven't really revealed anything about it. Still, there's speculation that it may be marketed as part of Samsung's Galaxy line. "One would think that a product like this would fall under the Galaxy naming scheme and be called something like the “Galaxy Watch,” writes MobileSyrup.

Meanwhile, leaked screen shots obtained by Slashgear that puportedly show the device back that assumption up, with a view of the watch face displaying the name Samsung Galaxy Altius.

Even though we don't know much yet about the upcoming device, if we judge by existing smart watches, like the Pebble or Sony's SmartWatch, we can make a few assumptions.

Samsung's smart watch will most likely be a bluetooth-enabled accessory that allows you to view updates and notifications from your phone, and will probably also include features like an actual clock, a calendar and music player.

Beyond that, it's hard to say. But since the smart watch market is looking a lot like an arms race these days, it's likely that this next Samsung phone accessory surpasses the Samsung-compatible Sony SmartWatch in terms of features. In any case, it'll have to, if Samsung wants to stand a chance in its next bout with Apple.

Design concept from earlier this year for an iSiri Smartwatch from Frederico Ciccarese

This wouldn't be the first time – remember Frederico Ciccarese's design concept for an iSiri smartwatch? – but rumors have been circulating about the possibility of an Apple-branded smartwatch in the coming months.

A report (via Chinese news portal 163.com) has been making the rounds on Mashable and 9to5Mac, among others, claiming that Apple and Intel are working together on a Bluetooth-enabled smartwatch that could be released as early as the first quarter of 2013.

The rumored iWatch may work like Sony Mobile's SmartWatch, which syncs with your smartphone and keeps you discreetly updated

Then, there are watch-style cases from accessories makers like Lunatik and Griffin that turn devices you already own, like an iPod nano, into a wrist-wearable smart device.

So, how would an Apple-sanctioned smartwatch differ from any of these? According to the report's sources on the Chinese supply chain, the iWatch would share some elements of other smartwatches. like Sony's device, it would be Bluteooth-enabled and sync to your smartphone, as long as it's an iPhone that is.

It would also be fairly dainty, roughly the size of an iPod nano with an 1.5" OLED display. Such a device, argues 9to5Mac, "could make sense for a future, Bluetooth 4.0-enabled iPod nano. Though they also note that its unlikely would choose to partner with Intel on a such a "low-powered, mobile product."